Blank for last-forms for upper-patterns for boots or shoes.



' A. E. WHITELAW. BLANK FOR LAST FORMS FOR UPPER PATTERNS FOR BOOTS 0RSHOES.

APPLIOATION FILED BBPT.14, 190B.

Patented Mar. 14,1911.

2 BHBETS--SHEBT l.

WITNESSES AAAAAAAAAAA W.

APPLICATION FILED BB5? 11111111 9.

EEEEEEEEEEEEE 2.

UNITE STATES IiTENT OFFICE.

ALBERT EDWARD WHITELAW, 0F MELBOURNE, VICTORIA, AUSTRALIA.

BLANK FOR LAST-FORMS FOR UPPER-PATTERNS FOR BOOTS 0R SHOES.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALBERT EDWARD \Vnrrnnaw, a subject of the King ofGreat Britain, and a resident of Melbourne, in the State of Victoria, inthe Commonwealth of Australia, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Blanks for Last- Forms for Upper-Patterns for Boots orShoes, whereof the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a flexible blank for a last form adapted forapplication. to a. last for the purpose of laying out flat the necessarydimensions of the last for the making of patterns for the cutting ofuppers.

In obtaining the flat dimensions of the last for the purpose indicated,a usual practice has been to tack or hold to one side of the last aroughly shaped blank of paper, then to cut slits in the edges thereofforming tongues bendable independently of one another, then to bend themin succession or in groups closely against the last to the measuringlines thereof, then to mark said tongues at said lines, then to removethe blank from the last and cut the tongues at the points indicated;thus producing a last form from which upper patterns are subsequentlyconstructed. Sometimes the last form is produced by direct cutting offof the tongue ends at the measuring line while the blank is on the lastwithout the preliminary marking thereof.

In the old practice above indicated the rough blank contains no definiteguide for the cutting of the slits to form the tongues,

consequently such slits are cut to varying depths and the resultingintegral strip which constitutes the body of the last form is irregularin shape. Owing to this irregularity it cannot be drawn in a straightline over the last from the back to the tip of the toe and itsmeasurement as regards length liable to be inaccurate and is usuallyverified or corrected by a tape which is drawn taut from the center ofthe back of the last to the toe thereof. A. last form made from a roughblank in the old Way is subject to a further inaccuracy which afiectsthe outline and spring of the subsequent pattern, being an inaccuracydue to the fact that the body of the blank is liable to bend or shiftlaterally during the marking and cutting of the tongues. Anotherobjection to last forms made from a rough blank is that they con-Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed September 14, 1909.

Patented Mar. 14, 1911.

Serial No. 517,585.

sumo the pattern makers time in the cutting of the tongues.

The principal object of this invention is to provide a blank formed uponcarefully designed lines and which will maintain its shape during themeasuring operation so that patterns of uniform accuracy may beconstructed therefrom.

Another object of this invention is to save the time of the patternmaker by supplying ready-to-use blanks at trifling cost.

Another object of this invention is to provide a last form in which themeasuring tongues can be utilized to determine the de grees of concavityin the concave portions of the last without concealing the guide line atthe convexities thereof.

Another object of this invention is to provide a blank which isadjustable on the last without relative change of position to facilitatethe measuring of the depression at the top between the toe and instep.

Another object of this invention is to provide a last pattern which issullicicntly rigid to prevent lateral shifting or longitudinal extensionduring the measuring operation.

Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings represents a face elevation of ablank embodying one form of this invention, said blank being applied toone side of a last and some of the tongues being bent into measuringcontact therewith. Fig. 2 represents a transverse section on line ofFig. 1 of a last having applied thereto on the inner side thereof ablank of this character in position for use in measuring. Fig. 3represents a transverse section of a last on line of Fig. 1 showingblanks embodying this invention applied to the inner and outer sidesthereof in position for use in measuring. Fig. 4t represents a similarsection to that shown in Fig. 3, the blanks being applied to oppositesides of the last and some of the tongues being shown as bent intocontact with the last over the measuring lines thereof.

The same reference numbers are used in all the figures to indicatecorresponding parts.

The blank 10 herein shown may be con structed from any suitable flexiblesheet material, preferably of heavy Manila paper. In the making of ablank a sheet of the material to be used in the construction thereof iscut larger than and roughly in the general outline of a side elevationof the last to which it is to be applied. A plurality of slits 1 1 arecut on the lower side of said sheet forming downward tongues 15, and aplurality of slits 18 are cut on the upper side thereof forming upwardtongues 19. Radial slits 16 are cut on the under side of said sheet nearthe toe forming radial tongues 17. Radial slits 20 are cut in the rearend of said sheet forming back horizontal tongues 21. An inclined slit22 is formed on the under side of said sheet near the rear end forming aheel tongue 23. The slits may vary in form direction and number withoutdeparting from this invention. The slits are however preferably in theform of slots having parallel sides resulting from the cutting out ofparts of the sheet or blank for the purpose hereinafter described. Asthus constructed the blank is composed of a sheet of flexible materialadapted to practically cover one side of a last and comprises a straightlongitudinal body 11 having a tongue 12 at its front end and a tongue 13at its rear end, vertical tongues 15 on its lower side, radial tongues17 on its lower side, vertical tongues 19 011 its upper side andhorizontal tongues 21 and 23 on its rear end. The body 11 of the blankis provided preferably near its rear end with a longitudinal slot 25. Astraight stiffening strip 30 is preferably applied to the body 11, beingcemented or otherwise attached thereto.

Separate blanks 10 are used for the inside and outside respectively ofthe last when the blanks are provided with reinforcing strips so thatthe reinforcing strip may always be on the outside of the blank in orderto get a proper measurement for the last form. A blank of the samethickness throughout may be used on either side of the last.

In the use of this invention a blank 10 is applied to one side of a last50 and secured in stationary position thereon by any suitable means. Themeans shown are tacks a tack40 passing through the slot 25 into thequarter of the last, a tack ll passing through the front of the body 11of the blank into the toe of the last, a tack 12 passing through therear end of the body 11 of the blank into the back of the last andintermediate tacks 43 and 44 being used along the body of the last.After the blank has been secured to the last, the vertical tongues 15and radial tongues 17 on the lower side of the body 11 of the blank arebent into close contact with the last and given markings to correspondwith the lower edge of the last, those at the waist being carried underto a line thereon corresponding with the edge of the insole. Thevertical tongues 19 011 the upper side of the body 11 are bent over thetop of the last and given markings to correspond with the mediallongitudinal line of the last. The rear tongues 21, 13 and 23 are bentover the rear end of the last and given markings to correspond with themedial. line at that end. The tongue 12 at the front end of the body 11is bent over in contact with the last and given a marking to correspondwith the toe edge of the last. Before the measure is taken along thedepressed portion of the last between the instep and toe thereof, allthe tacks are removed except the tack 11 at or near the toe and the tack10 which passes through the slot 25 of the blank. The slot 25 permitsthe blank to slide forward and the body 11 over said depressed portionto be pressed down into contact therewith. After the blank is marked asabove described the ends of the tongues are cut off on the lines of saidmarkings and the last form is complete and ready for use in theconstruction of patterns for uppers. The ends of the tongues may be cutoff while the blank is on the last and the markings dispensed with.

I claim as my invention 1. A'blank for a last form composed of a sheetof flexible material adapted to practically cover one side of a last andcomprising a straight central body adapted for attachment to the side ofa last and tongues closely disposed along said body and'bendable upwardand downward respectively into contact with the top and bottom of thelast.

2. A blank for a last form composed of a sheet of flexible materialadapted to practically cover one side of a last and comprising astraight central body adapted for attachment to the side of a last andtongues disposed along opposite sides of said body and separated byslits extending at divers angles from said body, said tongues beingbendable into contact with the body of the last and adapted to indicatein flat the contour of one side thereof.

3. A blank for a last form composed of a sheet of flexible materialadapted to practically cover one side of a last and having lateral slitsalong its central portion extending inward from its opposite sides,radial slits near its toe and heel ends and longitudinal slits at saidends, sa id slits forming tongues bendable in divers directions intocontact with the surface of one side of the last and adapted to indicatein flat the contour thereof. v

4. A blank for a last form composed of a sheet of flexible materialadapted to practically cover one side of a last and comprising astraight central body having a reinforcing strip adapted for attachmentto the side of a last and tongues closely disposed along said body onopposite sides thereof and bendable upward and downward respectivelyinto contact with the upper and lower parts of the last.

5. A blank for a last form composed of a sheet of flexible materialadapted to practieally cover one side of a last and comprising astraight central body having a 1ongitudinal slot for adjustableattachment to the side of a last and tongues closely disposed along saidbody on opposite sides thereof and bendable upward and downwardrespectively into contact with the upper and lower parts of the last.

6. A blank for a last form composed of a sheet of flexible materialadapted to practically cover one side of a last and comprising astraight central body having a reinforcing strip and a longitudinal slotfor adjustable attachment to the side of a last and tongues closelydisposed along said body on opposite sides thereof and bendable upwardand downward respectively into contact with the upper and lower parts ofthe last.

7 A blank for a last form composed of a sheet of flexible materialadapted to practically cover one side of a last and comprising a centralreinforced body adapted for attachment to the side of a last and tonguesdisposed along opposite sides of said body and separated by slitsextending at divers angles from said body, said tongues being bendableinto contact with the body of the last and adapted to indicate in flatthe contour of one side thereof.

8. A blank for a last form composed of a sheet of flexible materialadapted to practically cover one side of a last and comprising astraight central slotted body adapted for adjustment to the side of alast and tongues disposed alon opposite sides of said body and separatedlay slits extending at divers angles from said body, said tongues beingbendable into contact with the body of the last and adapted to indicatein fiat 40 the contour of one side thereof.

ALBERT EDWARD WIIITELAW.

Witnesses FRANK C. SoMEs, PAUL E. J OHNSON.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C.

